Audio version

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Health & Habitat

December 2012/January 2013 www.esb.ie/em

Private Drivers’ Handbook and Road Safety Awareness DVD

SAFE DRIVING BUREAU - REVIEW OF 2012

GRAINNE COOGAN

SAFE DRIVING

To date, 2012 has been a positive year in terms of road safety in ESB. So far this year, there have been 12 serious collisions and overall 105 collisions within our Fleet. This is a dramatic improvement on 2009 when there were 23 serious collisions and 205 collisions in total.

The Private Drivers’ Handbook and a Road Safety Awareness DVD were distributed to all staff and their families in January.

Advanced driver training and assessment continued throughout the year. About 2,500 ESB staff have so far successfully completed the training.

Let us continue the good work and be mindful that driving during the winter months presents a multitude of different challenges with more hours of darkness and poorer weather conditions.

• Check your vehicle, particularly your tyres: they are your only contact with the road. Car tyres should be above the minimum legal thread depth of 1.6mm. The RSA advises replacing tyres when they reach 3mm.

• Use Daytime Running Lights. Be as visible as possible. Only use fog lights in foggy conditions and turn them off when not required.

• Safe Distance. Slow down and allow extra distance between you and the car in front. Remember: only a fool breaks the two-second rule!

• Beware of ‘Black Ice’ especially on sheltered/shaded areas of the road, under trees and near high walls

• Make sure you can see clearly. All too often motorists do not de-fog or de-ice windows and mirrors, which can compromise visibility. Wipers should be checked for wear and tear, and replaced if necessary;

Pedestrians and cyclists

To be safe on the roads in winter a pedestrian or cyclist must be seen. Ensure the lights on the bike are working properly and use a torch when out walking. Wear a high visibility jacket.

For more information contact Gráinne Coogan, Communications Officer at 01 4631721, email safedriving@esb.ie or visit the Safe Driving Website: esbnet/safedriving

Cyber bullying

News

Page 06

HELP TURN CRAVINGS INTO SAVINGS!

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in Ireland. One in every two smokers will die of a tobacco-related disease.

HEALTH SERVICES UPDATE

Risks of Smoking

Smoking is a major risk factor for heart and lung disease. Smokers are at a higher risk than nonsmokers of developing blood clots, hardening and narrowing of the heart’s arteries (coronary artery disease) and stroke. It causes bronchitis, emphysema and lung cancer, can reduce fertility and smoking during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth and illness in early infancy.

The Good News

• It’s never too late to quit smoking. The benefits happen immediately

• 20 minutes after you quit smoking your blood pressure and pulse return to normal

• Within one day your risk of heart attack starts to fall

• Within two days your sense of taste and smell improves

• After three days breathing is easier and energy levels increase

• Over the next three months your circulation improves, lung function increases, you breathe more easily and the risk of heart attack and stroke reduces

• After one year your risk of having a heart attack is cut in half. Your risk of cancer is also reduced

Prepare to quit smoking

Write down your reasons for quitting - think about the good and the not so good things about quitting smoking. Compare the list and keep them close at hand to remind you why you want to quit. Make a date to quit – pick your date and stick to it. Think about what methods and supports are available to help you quit and have them ready before your quit date. You will need willpower to quit smoking. Remind yourself that you can do it. It will feel good not to be controlled by cigarettes.

Support

ESB Health Services offers support to staff wishing to give up smoking. Individuals are given information and advice on quitting and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). NRT can double your chance of success by helping to beat cravings. NRT is not a magic cure but will help reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings.

Nicotine patches are available from ESB Health Services at a discounted rate of €10 per pack of seven - simply download a form from the ESB Health Services website: http://esbnet/sharedservices/health/health_screening/lung_cancer.shtm Send it to us and we will send you the Nicotine patches. ESB also offer 50% refund on Allen Carr’s Easy Way to Stop Smoking course.

Help turn cravings, into savings.

Another major benefit of giving up smoking is of course the financial one and with the current economic climate these savings could go towards travel, education, new clothes or even home improvements!

For example, based on an average of €9 per pack of cigarettes, by quitting a person who smoked 20 cigarettes a day will save €63 a week, that’s roughly €273 a month and €3,200 a year. After 20 years of not smoking you would save more than €65,500 Plan now for a happy, healthier and smoke free New Year. .

Call the National Smokers’ Quitline 1850 201 203 or log on to www.quit.ie for additional advice and support

AMEN: working tirelessly to provide a confidential helpline, information and a support service for male victims of domestic abuse

EAP NOTICEBOARD

MANY PEOPLE do not believe that men can be victims of domestic abuse. It can be very difficult for a man to come forward and admit that he is a victim of domestic abuse. In 2008 Cosc, the National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence, compiled a report Attitudes to Domestic Abuse in Ireland, which found that 42% of people consider domestic abuse against men to be common.

Amen Support Services was founded 15 years ago and, since then, it has worked tirelessly to provide a confidential helpline, information and a support service for male victims of domestic abuse.

The organisation campaigns for greater recognition and support services for male victims from political and statutory bodies and for the inclusion of men, men’s groups and men’s experiences in the formulation of relevant social policy and legislation.

Last year, 2011, saw more than 4,300 contacts being made to Amen Support Services from men and concerned family members and friends. Men contacting Amen Support Services speak about a variety of incidents of abuse that they have suffered at the hands of their female partners or wives. These incidents include physical, emotional, psychological, verbal and sexual abuse.

Domestic violence is an issue that hurts every member of a family.

Amen’s services include:

• A confidential helpline
• Support group meetings
• Court accompaniment
• One to one meetings
• Outreach Clinic

Amen Support Services Helpline 0469023718

St. Anne’s Resource Centre, Railway Street, Navan, Co. Meath. Email: info@amen.ie Web: www.amen.ie

The Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) is a confidential service provided to ESB Staff and Pensioners.

For further information on this or any related matter contact your local EAP Officer.